Gurdwara Architecture

Gurdwara is the sacred place of worship for the Sikhs. Sikhism being a relatively new religion, the architecture used in the Gurdwara features some elements borrowed from the Mughal architecture and the Rajput palaces and forts. Apart from these, the architecture includes some original concepts conforming to the principles of the religion.

A Gurdwara is usually built on a platform which is lower in height as compared to the structures in its vicinity. This represents one of the basic ideologies of the Sikh religion, which is humbleness. The basic model of the Gurdwara comprises of a room to seat the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhism, and a hall to accommodate the congregation during the ceremonies. The building usually contains entrances on all sides as a symbolic gesture to represent this religion’s receptiveness to all people, irrespective of the caste or creed. These entrances also represent the Sikh belief in God’s omnipresence. Apart from these entrances, there is a main gateway called ‘deorhi.’ This gateway is usually a huge structure containing some fine pieces of architecture and embellishment.

The elevation of the main building in a Gurdwara ranges from a single storey to nine storeys. The shape of the building features a combination of the square, rectangular, octagonal and the cruciform shapes. Usually there is a ‘gumbad’ (dome) on the top of the sanctum. Some gurdwaras feature a ‘palaki,’ which is a palanquin-shaped roof structure, instead of the dome. Apart from these, a flat-roofed top is also common.

The dome of the Gurdwara is usually fluted or ribbed. The usual color used for the dome is white, although some domes are gilded. The top is decorated with an inverted lotus-shaped structure. The base is usually shaped in a floral fashion. The central dome is often surrounded by four smaller corner domes. Minarets are rarely used in a Gurdwara.

The interiors of the Gurdwara feature some fine artwork. These artworks include the Dehin wall painting, Jaratkari inlay work, Tukri glass work and the Gach plasterwork. Usually the entrance is given more attention during the embellishment work. The motifs are in general geometric and floral. In some places brass or copper coatings are given to enhance the artistic work.

Brick, lime mortar, gypsum plaster and lime concrete are the preferred materials used in the construction of a Gurdwara. Occasionally even red stone, white marble and similar materials are employed.

A person wishing to see some of the finest specimen of Gurdwara Architecture should visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

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[Source all india (131) 17-Dec-04]